Modi & the young

14 November 2011: Occasionally, a leader overcomes party limitations to create a larger-than-life image for himself. Narendra Modi is such a leader. The handicaps of the BJP have not prevented his emergence and growth. If young voters had their way, they would clean elect Modi as prime minister.

Modi carries the stigma of the post-Godhra riots. He may or may not be able to shake it off. But that remains obscured for young voters who see him as a doer. They are impatient for India's rise. They have no use for Manmohan Singh or L.K.Advani or even the younger Rahul Gandhi.
Seeing how Narendra Modi has transformed Gujarat, the very young believe he can replicate that success on a national level. Their young reckless thinking simply tells them, "Give Modi a chance. He will produce a miracle."
It is an old story that India Inc thinks the same way. Industrialist after industrialist has sung paeans to Modi and invested in Gujarat. On the other hand, there is hardly a CEO who does not complain of "paralysis" in the Manmohan Singh government. That complain resounded at the World Economic Forum summit in Bombay.
China, which is most canny about political-economic changes in India, has caught the drift early. Readers would remember how the Chinese feted Sonia Gandhi when she was perceived as the power behind the UPA throne. Her October 2007 visit to Beijing when she met the powerful Hu Jintao was hailed as a "milestone".
Now, it is Modi's turn. From all accounts, he received a red-carpet welcome in China reserved for visiting heads of government. He of course talked about Gujarat. But he also discussed Pakistani terrorism and controversial Chinese maps making claims on Indian states. In other words, Modi went as more that Gujarat's chief minister and the Chinese saw fit to receive him as such.
But meanwhile, what do you see happening with Modi's party senior, Advani, who at age eighty-five remains doggedly in the PM race? Zilch. Advani's anti-corruption yatra should have theoretically raised his stature and given the BJP unbeatable profile for the 2014 general elections.
That has not happened. Despite B.S.Yeddyuruppa, the yatra was not a bad idea. It was an attempt to ride the anti-corruption wave generated by Anna Hazare. But as this writer had said earlier, if Advani had firmly indicated no to his own prime-ministership and focused on the yatra for the good of the BJP, he could have chosen the next BJP prime minister. But Advani's ambition overtook good sense.
And see Rahul Gandhi at the same time making a mess of his career. Apparently, he wants to return to Nehru to win UP for the Congress. Nehru's former constituency which was neglected for decades is back in favour. But are voters likely to be impressed, especially young voters? No.
Voter thinking has been captured by a Congress hoarding in UP that was hurriedly brought down for speaking the bitter truth. The hoarding said, "Mata bimaar, mantrimandal laachar; Rahul-ji, karo netritva sweekar."
Is Rahul ready? No. A UP chief-ministership would have been a good starting point for him if the Congress won the polls. Both look impossible. And at least Mayawati believes the Madhya Pradesh reject, Digvijay Singh, is positioning himself for UP chief-ministership.
What could be worse for UP and the Congress?
It is the zero vision and absent capabilities of the leading Congress and BJP PM candidates that is pushing the chance for Narendra Modi as PM. It is conventional thinking that political fragmentation, votebank politics, BJP infighting and so forth will mar Modi's chances, apart from his role or lack of it in the Gujarat riots.
The opposite can happen too. If masses of voters reject the present lot of so-called "national leaders" and in desperation choose an "outsider" with a compelling track record, the result could be dramatic and unexpected.
Young voters are frenetic for change. They will not take no for an answer. They won't be easily disheartened or deflected or dissuaded. Their focus is enviable. If they come together and go for Modi, there is no stopping him.
N.V.Subramanian is Editor, www.NewsInsight.net, and writes internationally on strategic affairs. He has authored two novels, University of Love (Writers Workshop, Calcutta) and Courtesan of Storms (Har-Anand, Delhi). Email: envysub@gmail.com.

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There are three ways to tackle the issues that repress India. One is to shut our eyes to corruption, venal politicians, anti-entrepreneur bureaucrats, and a mindset against meritocracy. The second is to become part of the system, merge with an interest group, and feel guiltless about street children, rat-eaters, riot-victims, men and women who cannot spell their name, or vote-robbing...